Best concerts of the week: Farewell Milwaukee at Turf Club, Ike Reilly Assassination at First Ave

Your guide to the Twin Cities' must-see shows this week.

November 18, 2016 at 6:41PM
Nick Fay credit
The band Farewell Milwaukee.
Farewell Milwaukee plays the Turf Club on Friday. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Farewell Milwaukee: It's hard to think of a more accessible, easily likable Minnesota rock band at the moment than this earnest Americana sextet, perfect for fans of Ryan Adams and the Eagles alike, or the Gear Daddies and Romantica. After frontman Ben Lubeck turned introspective on his recent solo debut, "Rented Rooms," he wrote another inspired batch of songs built around his group's tight, spirited chemistry for their best album yet, "FM." The record's two brands of romantic tunes landed key melodic support from Haley Bonar and the We Are the Willows string players, while the band's own harmonies shine. Sam Cassidy and the Heavy Set open the release parties. (9 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, $10-$12; eTix.com.)

Lloyd Cole: Gen-X alt-rock fans' most beloved romantic British crooner not named Morrissey has been revisiting his oldies on acoustic tours since last year's reissues of his late-'80s albums with the Commotions. (7:30 p.m. Fri., the Dakota, $35-$45.)

Alan Jackson: He's been one of country's most consistent performers — 26 No. 1 tunes in 26 years. His albums, including last year's "Angels and Alcohol," are filled with romantic and reflective ballads, an up-tempo dance number here and there, and the occasional attempt at cuteness. He tried to get cute on the single "Jim and Jack and Hank," which nods to two brands of alcohol and one of country music's greatest singers. Of course, before the song's over, Jackson mentions Jose, Captain Morgan, George and Tammy, Loretta, Merle, even Hank Jr. and, of course, Jackson's buddy, Jimmy Buffett. A regular at the State Fair, Jackson opts for an arena this time around. Opening is former "American Idol" star Lauren Alaina. (7:30 p.m. Sat. Target Center, Mpls., $49.50-$74.50, axs.com)

Henry Rollins: Now a columnist and radio and TV personality in Los Angeles, the former Black Flag and Rollins Band howler is headed to the 'burbs on his first spoken-word tour since 2012, promising views from his widespread global travel but no doubt having plenty to discuss stateside, too. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Ames Center, Burnsville, $29-$45.)

Fidlar: Los Angeles's best punk group of the 2010s grew up, but just a little, on last year's sophomore album "Too" and remains one of the most raucous and electrifying under-30 bands on tour today. (7 p.m. Sat., Varsity Theater, all ages, $18.)

CJ Chenier: Louisiana's foremost zydeco master since the passing of his dad Clifton's old bandmate, Buckwheat Zydeco, CJ has become a Dakota regular who makes the seats there seem futile. (7 and 9 p.m. Sat., Dakota, $20-$25.)

Kelsea Ballerini: When her "Love Me Like You Mean It" reached No. 1 on the country chart last year, she became the first solo female country music artist to top the chart with her debut single since Carrie Underwood. And the spunky newcomer is no one-hit wonder, as her ensuing hits "Dibs" and "Peter Pan" have demonstrated. (8 p.m. Sat. Mill City Nights, $25-$50.)

Jonatha Brooke: After living in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, acclaimed literate singer-songwriter has moved to Minneapolis, her husband/manager's hometown. And she arrived this fall along with a splendid new album, "Midnight. Hallelujah." The pop-country title track prays for love as "a 2 a.m. amen," "Put the Gun Down" consoles a person in trouble, and "Really Really Love" celebrates the joy of romance, with peppy organ by the late Joe Sample. This will be Brooke's debut as one of us. (7 p.m. Mon. Dakota, Mpls., $30-$35, dakotacooks.com)

Fitz & the Tantrums: The funky Los Angeles soul-pop band landed another radio hit this year with the sports-arena-baiting "HandClap," but Twin Cities fans already loved them after three Basilica Block Party appearances and other high-energy local shows. (8 p.m. Tue., State Theatre, $32.50-$37.50.)

Ike Reilly Assassination: Between the Cubs and Trump victories, there should be plenty for the hot-headed, Irish-blooded Reilly to stew, steam and scream over at his band's 14th annual trek up I-94 from Libertyville, Ill., a Thanksgiving Eve tradition going back to the release of his locally beloved 2001 debut "Salesmen & Racists." Last year's album "Born on Fire" kept up Reilly's tradition of self-effacing but universal workingman's anthems, and this year's openers the Honeydogs and Rich Mattson & the Northstars each have new records worth absorbing. But any year is a good year to catch this musical and emotional blowout. (8 p.m. Wed., First Avenue, $16, or $66 with sound-check reception benefiting ESNS.org, eTix.com.)

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80: The second musical son of late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti inherited many of his dad's bandmates and put on a dizzying, deep-grooving set with them at last year's Rock the Garden concert. (7:30 p.m. Wed., Cedar Cultural Center, $30-$35.)

Pretty Reckless: Child actress and "Gossip Girl" cast member Taylor Momsen has proven herself a capable hard-rock frontwoman and graduates to her band's biggest local gig to date after the success of their third album, "Who Are You Selling For." Holy White Hounds open. (7 p.m. Wed., Myth, all ages, $26.50.)

about the writers

about the writers

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

See More

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

See More